The Sun. — London, England, 1864-04-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF LORDS—Last Evening. The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack at the usual hour. Lord COLVILLE of CULROSS presented a petition praying for a partial or total repeal of the malt duty. THE METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS AND THE WORKING CLASSES. The Earl of DERBY wished to call the attention of their lordships to a petition he was about to present, which related to the railways in the metropolis. The petition was from the parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and it stated it was inhabited by a number of very persons persons, the whole parish being set down at 53,000 p, and was already densely crowded. One railway had already destroyed 100 houses, and 300 families had been displaced, and what was worse there was no accommodation for them in the neighbourhood. His noble friend the Earl of Shaftesbury, some time ago, wished that clauses should be introduced into all metropolitan railways compelling them either to find accommodation for those rendered houseless by their works, or that they should give compensation. That had been found impossible, and he (Earl Derby) was afraid that the resolutions already passed by their lordships would also become no protection at all, The prayer of the petitioners was that their lordships should compel all railways at present before Parliament which required to come into a metropolitan terminus to run two trains in the morning and another in the evening, to enable the working class to arrive in London early in the morning, and leave it at the close of the day's work, at the rate of ld for the entire distance. He be lieved one railway, the London, Chatham, and Dover, in tended to adopt an arrangement which, by the payment of is per week, they would convey the working classes by an early train in the morning, and a late one in the evening, to a distance not exceeding ten miles. He thought it would be advisable for their lordships to consider whether clauses could not be introduced into all the metropolitan railways before Parliament, compelling them to run certain trains at fares considerably less than the ordinary ones, for the accommodation of those who had been compelled to leave the metropolis in consequence of the construction of those works. The Earl of MALMESBURY said such a system as that referred to by his noble friend had been in force in Paris, and had been found to be of the greatest service to the working classes. Earl GRANVILLE said the idea was a good one, and no doubt her Majesty's Government would consider it. Earl RUSSELL said one of the great difficulties that stood in the way was, who was to purchase the land upon which houses were to be built for the accommodation of the working classes, as the railway companies were pre vented by Parliament from doing so. The Earl of DERBY said he had said nothing about building houses. He had confined himself solely to the question for granting facilities to the working classes who were compelled to live a short distance from the metropolis. The subject then dropped. PRIVATE BUSINESS. The following bills were read a third time and passed : Bedford Gas--Clayton, Allerton, and Thornton Gas—and Wellington (Salop) Markets, with amendments. FEDERAL ENLISTING IN IRELAND. In reply to the Earl of DONOUGHMORE, Earl RUSSELL again explained the course pursued by the Government in reference to thsi case of the earn ge. The Earl of DERBY enquired how it was that the United States Government could be ignorant of the illegal enlisting that was going on when the men enlisted were seen by the surgeon, paid by the United States, and clothed in the uniform of the United States Navy. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said he had seen no statement to the effect that the Kearsage was now refitting in one of the English ports. MALT FOR ANIMALS BILL. The report of amendments on this bill were brought up and agreed to. THE COURT OF CHANCERY (DESPATCH OF BUSINESS) BILL. This bill passed through committee. CONVEYANCES, &e. (IRELAND) BILL, This bill passed through committee. BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES (IRELAND) BILL This bill was read a third time and passed. REMOVAL OF CONSULS BY THl',. CONFEDE RATE GOVERNMENT. The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for copies of any correspondence that had taken place in reference to the removal of British Consuls frum ports in the Confederate States of North America, or in reference to their ceasing to act. The Consuls were accredited to the Federal Go vernment, and the charge against them, in one case, was forwarding, under an official certificate, letters to the Northern States containing, bills of exchange for the pay ment of debts due in England; in another, that the Consul had been instrumental in shipping specie on board an English vessel of war, for transmission to England, to pay the dividends on a public debt. He contended that these acts were not illegal, as the state of war did not cancel private or public obligations. Lord RUSSELL admitted that in the case of Mr, Bunch his exequatur had been unjustly taken from him by the Federal Government; but in the case of Mr. Magee it was considered, as English ships of war had been permitted to enter the blockaded ports, it was an abuse of that permission to employ these vessels for the transmission of specie that might be used to obtain the means of carrying on hostilities. In a third case the Consul had advised men who had been compelled to serve in the Southern army to desert on the field of battle. Had any complaint of such language been made by the Confederate Government he should certainly have reprimanded, and probably dismissed, the Consul who had used it. But, without making any such complaint, the President of the Confederacy informed these officers that they could no longer be allowed to exercise their functions. As the interests of British subjects could not be adequately protected when they had no authority to apply to, he should not think it wrong to establish a means of communication with the Government of the Southern States, as that might be done without acknowledging their independence. He had no objection to the motion if the words were so altered as to prevent any misunderstanding on this point. The motion was then agreed to, and their lordships ad journed at a quarter to seven. HOUSE OF COMMONS---Last Evening, The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock. PRIVATE BL SINE SS. The following bills were read a third time and passed Dublin and Meath Railway, Lancaster Local Board of Health, and Market Harborough and East Norton Railway, THE MALT TAX. A very large number of petitions were presented from different parts of the country praying for the repeal of the malt tax. THE CASE OF CAPTAIN MELVILLE WHITE. In reply to Colonel FRENCH, Mr. LA.YARD said that ho had received a comr Ahh i ee _ Lion promising satisfactory information relative to, t h e e i e h me of Captain Melville "White. SURPLUS EX PENDITTaRE, Mr. A, SMITH gave notice that ~,n, Tuesday, the 19th inst., he would move for a select committee to inquire into the surplus public expenditur e , in order to see whether a reduction in that branch 01 the public disbursements might not be effected. THE PENAL SERVITUDE BILL. Sir G. GREY gave notice of the further postponement of this bill from the 11th until the 18th inst. THE LISBURN ELECTION COMMITTEE. The CHAIRMAN brought up the report of the com mittee, to the effect that they had adjourned until to-mor row, in consequence of the house last evening not having consonted to the motion for the exemption of Mr. Stirling from further attendance. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said there was no doubt the question raised by his hon. friend the member for Northamptonshire (Mr. Hunt) last evening was very im portant. Having stated the position In which the question stood, he suggested that the proper course would be to accept the excuse of the hr,n. member for Perthshire (Mr. Stirling) for non-attendance, and to allow the committee to Meet. A suggestir:a might then be made to them to the „stion had been raised as to their competency (1 Si !' a nd tllen the matter could be referred to the house , c;. 3 . the report which the committee would present. S . lr IL CAIRNS said that this was a subject which re quired great deliberation, in order to avoid a collision with the other House of Parliament, and with courts of law. After some observations from Mr. HENLEY. The SOLI CITOR-GENERAL denied that there was Any legal question involved in this question. Some farther discussion ensued in which Mr. Hardy, Mr. Lygon, Mr. Forster, Mr. M'Donough, Sir G. Grey. 31r. Paull, Mr. Ayrt on, Mr. M, Smith, and Mr, Clarke, took part. Lord STANLEY said that the house was evidently in a difficulty from the novelty of the circumstances which had occurred, and he suggested as an amendment that the dis cwsion should be adjourned until that day six months, which would of necessity suspend the functions of the corn• mittee and enable the house to come to a proper decision on the subject. Mr. WALPOLE objected to the proposition of his noble friend (Lord Stanley), which, he contended, w ou ld h ave th e effect of increasing instead of ditninishi n r ; th e diffi cu lt y , and suggested that the committee should be allowed to COTO to a decision, which could then be discussed, and so the whole question of the functions of the house in respect to committees be determined. The ATTORNEY •CIENERAL also objected to the course proposed by the noble lord, as superseding the act of Parliament, and contended that the method he (the Attor ney-General) proposed was the proper means of meeting the Case. After a few words from blr. ADAIR, Lord STANLEY withdrew his amendment. The original motion out of which the discussion arose— namely, that Mr. Stirling's excuse for non-::ttendance on the committee on, the 22d nit, should be received—was adopted, which, in fact, carried out the suggestion of the Attorney-General. MAILS FROM SOUTHAMPTON AND B In reply to Mr. BERKELEY, Mr. F. PEEL said that there was no intention to make any alteration at present in the departure of tut mails from Southampton; but the Government were open to any offers that might be made on the subject. THE SAXON. Colonel SYKES asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he could give any information to the house of the results of the reference to the American Government respecting the seizure of the Saxon, and the conduct of Lieutenant Donegan. Mr. LAYARD said that her Majesty's consul at New York had reported that the vessel and cargo had been re stored to the owners without expense, but that the question of salvage had been reserved. He believed that Lieut. Donegan was to be tried. DISMISSAL OF MR. MORELL. Lord R. CECIL asked the Vice President of the Council if he would state to the house the grounds upon which Mr. Morel' had been dismissed from the office of her Majesty's inspector ? Mr. LOWE considered it would not be fair to the gentle- man in question to make an ex parte statement ; but if the noble lord would make a motion for the production of the correspondence that led to his dismissal, it would be laid t,n the table: PUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDINGS (LOCAL RATES). Mr. Alderman SALOMONS called attention to the ex emption from local taxation now claimed on account of pro perty in the occupation of Government departments, and moved that all lands and buildings used and occupied for public purposes should be assessed to local rates, and pay rates accordingly, ARMY ESTIMATES. In reply to a question, The Marquis of HARTINGTON said he would bring in the Army Estimates when the Chancellor of the Ex chequer made his financial statement. PUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDINGS (LOCAL RATE S). Mr. Alderman SALOISIONS rose to call attention to the exemption from local taxation now claimed on account of property in the occupation of Government departments, and to move, "That all lands and buildings used and occupied for public purposes should be assessed to local rates, and pay rates accordingly." He took the cases of barracks and dockyards, established sometimes in small parishes, and paying no rates. At Deptford, where the parish consisted of 80 acres, the dockyard occupied 40, and never contributed anything to the poor rates. The people paid for police, the expense of lunatics, and for the construction of gaols, the Government not rendering any assistance. He showed that the county rates had increased from £218,000 in 1792 to £2,218,000 in 1862, and maintained it was not fair that one part of the country should be taxed for another. The hon member adverted at some length to what his constituents, the inhabitants of Greenwich, considered the unfair treat ment they had received from the Government in the matter of poor rates, being placed in a different category to other parishes in which Government property was situated. Ad ' vetting then to the general question, he expressed a decided opinion that parishes in which Government establishments were situated derived no benefit whatever from the presence of those establishments ; that the presence of troops in large numbers largely increased the poor rates and police rates ; and that if the ground occupied by barracks and such esta • blishnaents were covered by private building, the area of rating would be largely increased. He thought a fair claim had been made out for Government paying poor rate, and he hoped that they would assent to the motion. Mr. HANKEY objected to the principle and the terms of the motion. lie differed entirely from the committee of 1858, and regretted that they should have come to any such resolution as they had done. If that resolution was carried out to any extent it would involve very heavy and unnecessary expenditure by the country. The build ings which it was proposed by the resolution to tax were for general and useful purposes, and benefited the localities in which they were situated, and on those grounds he ob jected entirely to the motion. Mr. S. BOOTH said that it would be impossible for the Government to take the same line of argument as the hon, gentleman who had just sat down, because they had already given up the whole question. The late Sir G. C. Lewis had concurred in the recommendations of the committee of 1858, and to a certain extent carried them out. After quoting in stances in which Government had paid compensation to different parishes for the non-rating of public establish ments, he referred to the change of policy of the Treasury in this respect. Having admitted the principle, he thought the Government were bound to frame certain general prin ciples which should guide their conduct in future, and so relieve the ratepayers from the great uncertainty in which they were now placed. Mr. W. MARTIN showed how prejudicially the Govern ment occupation affected the ratepayers of Rochester, and expressed a hope that they would reconsider their decision in regard to compensation for the non-rating of their estab lishments. Mr. F. PEEL said that the Government did not contend for the assertion in its full extent of the right of Govern ment property to be exempted from local rateage, because they had for some years obtained from Parliament an annual vote, which was applied as contributions to certain parishes in respect to Government property. In those parishes, therefore, they did pay to a certain extent what they would have to pay supposing the Government property to be liable to rating. Circumstances at the present day, though they did not raise the question of the:propriety of exempting Government property, justified the Government in making exceptions in the application of that principle. There was no doubt that Government property was more extensive than it had been formerly, while local rates, on account of drain age and other undertakings, had very much increased ; but while it might be right that the principle, Of exemption from rating should be suspended in certain, cases, he did not con sider they ought to go to the oth'dr extreme, and say that all Government property shoulszi pay rates, just as if it were private property • He diva not think that any property now in the possession of the Government ought to be made liable to rates, because, 'when a great proportion of the property in a parish had for a considerable time been exempted from rater, the remaining property in the parish had been bought or rented with a full knowledge of the circumstances, and allowance had been made for the fact that the rates were levied on a smaller area than the whole of the parish. It PM also right that such Government property as might be liable to rates should be assessed according to its value at the time when it was acquired by the Government, and not aocording to its improved value. Shoeburyness was a good illustration of this. About one-third of the land in that parish is occupied by the Government, who consequently pay one-third of the rates. But the Government have ex pended in buildings in that parish upwards of £lOO,OOO, and if they were rated life private property no less that: . sixths of the re,Aes would be paid by the Gover .lim „ t. He would set forth to the house the plan adapt e d in applying the ei nue j grant of Parliament. ' r ...ne property to which it 7,rts applied consisted of two :sasses. First, where parishes made application in res:pect of a large amount of Government property within +Lew, and where a large resident population was thereby i orought into the neighbourhood. In such cases it Walk conceded that the Government establishments added to the charges on the parish, and the Government therefore , agreed to contribute to the rates, and—as the line must be drawn somewhere—it was drawn at one-sixth of the whole amount of the assessment of the parish. That payment was to be viewed as a composition in lieu of rates generally. Then, again, the Government was willing to proceed upon the principle of indemnifying parishes against actual loss. In the case of the new barracks at Chelaea, for example, the Government had purchased twelve acres of land, which formerly were rated to the pariah, and it was considered that the parish was entitled to continue to receive from the Government the same sum which it had received in respect of the property before it was acquired by the Government. He wished to remind the house that the exemption from rating of Government property was net granted by statute, but arose foom the circumstance that it was not beneficially occupied. The recommendation of the committee was that all buildings used and occupied by any persons for any purposes whatever, should be deprived of any immunity they might enjoy in consequence of there being no beneficial occupation. (Hear.) A bill was intro duced for the purpose of giving effect to that recommenda tion, but it encountered so much opposition that it did not proceed to a second reading. In conclusion, he expressed a hope that Coe house would not agree to the motion. Sir J, ELPHINSTONE believed the reason why the bill 4 ,,0 which allusion had been made did not reach a second reading was, not the opposition it met with, but owing to the promise made by the Government to carry out the re commendations of the committee. The present resolution went no further than justice demanded, and ha should therefore give it his support. Mr. LOCKE said that when the committee was moved for he proposed that an addition shouldbe made to the terms of the reference, to the effect that all public institutions and buildings should be included. Why was one rule to be laid down for the Government and another for the public at large ? With respect to the committee of 1858, the right hon k member for Wiltshire had brought in a bill founded upon the recommendations of that committee, that all pro berty of whatever description should be rated to the poor, and bear all other burdens equally. He was sure the Chancellor of the Exchequer would be the last man in the world, after having tried to bring all public charities within the scope of taxation, to say that this principle should not be Applied to all public institutions and buildings alike. For his own part he could see no inconvenience in applying such a principle. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had understood it was not at first the intention of the hon. mem ber fur Greenwich to divide the house upon his motion; but as the hon. member had changed his purpose, he wished to call attention to the true state of the question upon which they were to divide. Nothing could be more different than the recommendation of the committee of 1858 and the pro posal of the hon. member. The principle of the hon. and learned member for Southwark he could understand. That hon. gentleman laid down the proposition that all buildings and institutions without exception, which would include churches and dissenting chapels, should be alike rated for parochial purposes. The hon, member, by way of compli meat, claimed his support to that proposition on the ground of his having advocated the taxation of the public charities of the country. But he thought the reception which his proposal for rating charities met with from hon. gentlemen on the other side of the house, and from many gentlemen advocating popular principles on this side, was not of such an encouraging character as to induce the house to commit itself to the principles of the hon. member for Greenwich. (Hear, and laughter.) The hon. and learned member for Southwark drew no distinction between sacred and profane, whether charitable, municipal, corporate, or whatever the character of the building or institution, he would bring all into his net, But the proposal of the hon. member for Greenwich was quite of another character, and would apply to buildings used for State purposes; so that practically, while the hon. member would grant exemption to the hos pital for dogs, which would come under the designation of a charitable institution, he would bring Government build ings which had been exempt for a century or upwards within the range of taxation. How did they stand with regard to this matter? It was one which, if theroughly considered, would be found to be fraught with extreme complication; and the application of the principle of taxation would be very serious in practice if applied to all buildings and in stitutions, embracing museums, the Houses of Parliament, &c. In many parishes it might be that one-half of the area and of the buildings were Government property; and although that had been the condition for two or three hun dred years, the proposal of the hon. member would bring them under taxation, which would be equal to endowing the other taxpayers at the expense of the ratepayers of the whole country. They were dealing gradually with the question, as in the case of rating land taken for the purpose of defence, and as in the case of the barracks at Chelsea, where the Government undertook to bear the amount which the land before contributed. This he contended was a better mode of dealing with a difficult question than by an ab stract resolution such as that of the hon, member for Greenwich. Sir F. BARING recommended the hon. member for Greenwich to leave the responsibility of the question upon the shoulders of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, after the admissions ho had made, instead of trying to grapple with it himself. Mr. DUTTON said that, to his own knowledge, some parishes in the neighbourhood of Aldershott were pauperised in consequence of the exemption from rates of the Govern ment buildings. Mr. B, CARTER said he should support the motion if it were pressed to a division, but ho would recommend its withdrawal. Mr. ANGERSTEIN, while supporting the motion, also joined in recommending his hon, friend not to press it to a division. After a reply from:qr. Alderman SALOMONS, the house divided— Ayes Noes Majority against TURNPIKE TRUSTS. On the motion of Mr. CLTVE, the committee on turnpike trusts, consisting of 21 members, was nominated, Mr. Ferrand protesting that the agricultural interests in the manufacturing districts were not properly represented upon it. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 6, 1864, houses of Broacker, whence the view is into Flens burg Bay and to the point where the hamlet of Brunsius stands, also over to Hollnis, I perceived a stir in the road outside, soldiers and natives in groups standing about the houses and on the banks (" knicks " they call them), and all gazing curiously seaward, and, my attention thus challenged, I quickly discerned the long, low, wicked-looking hull of the sea monster, lying to near the shore, seem- ingly about an English mile from my post of ob- servation. There were her three slender masts, only one of them with a yard crossing it, her low, coffin. like turrets, her black and taciturn physiognomy, inscrutable to the keenest gaze through the strongest lenses. No busy stir of seamen on her deck, no bare-armed gunners busy at their earronsdes, but all proceeding behind an impenetrable screen. Her crew might be at dinner cr asleep, or they might he preparing behind those gloomy and mysterious bul warks to send a hurtling storm of missiles to the shore. There she lay, an iron mask ; her purpose unfathomable. It apparently was one of observa tion rather than of aggression. Her reconnaissance may bear fruit hereafter, but, as far as yesterday went, it was bloodless. She was out on a voyage of discovery. Probably she knew that the telegraph which had been established mainly to give notice of her movements had been discontinued, that the bat tery at Brunsius had been disarmed and the pon toon bridges at Eckernsund broken up ; so she could come in with comparative safety to look at the lay of the land, and see if she could pitch upon a point handy for doing mischief. She went up past Hollnis and had a peep at Eckernsund, where at that time I apprehend that one bridge still remained (for I had crossed it not two hours previously), although I hear that it has been since removed. After lounging about for raome time, as if half tempted to have a shot the man on Brcacker steeple, she put coals on and steamed away under a cloud of smoke across the sunlit water—yesterday as smooth as glass, and reflecting the sky's deep blue—to her old station by Alsen Island. People said she had only been making her observations with a view to a night attack; and certainly the night that followed was not ill adapted to an enterprise of the kind, being one of the blackest darkness, but Rolf Drake did not think fit to profit by it, and if she had her profit might well have proved her loss, for, if I mistake not the object of certain movements of guns I noticed, she would have been well received. For reasons unknown to me there are constant changes in the batteries about here ) the number of guns placed in them, &c. ; one day you see a bat tery armed, the next it is disarmed; the three-gun batteries at Eckernsund were lately reduced to two guns each ; the tw o 24 pounder batteries near Gam melsmark, 1at . „1 5 - o f four . guns each, last night had only tve - ,, apiece, If the weather permits the active PwAing forward of the siege works we shall soon have powerful batteries pounding the forts at a dis tance of 600 y ar d s , or l ess. F or the present, how ever, things m a y, perhaps, go on quietly enough for a few days, The Danes seem little prone to dashing sert'es, and disposed to let their enemy come near. 'glen are valuable to them, and perhaps they are reserving themselves for the great conflict which now appears inevitabie, unless they choose to evacuate Duppel and Alsen. I observe that my colleague at Sonderberg speaks of the Danish smoothbores being no match for the Prussian rifled artillery, but ce r t a i n ly a very large proporti o n of the Danish projectiles that have been sent over here are of conical form, and fired from rifled cannon. All that I have happened myself to see have been of that kind, and if the Danes fired better, or had better luck, or if the Prussians had not their blindages to get behind, the casualties would have been more numerous on their side, I mean that there has been at times a pretty sharp fire from the Danes, but their shells burst too high or go too far, and so have done very little harm, the return of casualties in the batteries sent you in a recent letter having been since then little, if at all, augmented. What is certain is that the Prussians have good artillery and good artiller:,men ; both their 12 pounder s and 24 pounders are beautiful pieces, and their practice is remarkably good. As for their small arms, their voldnadelgetachr, or rifle, the more they use it the more pleased they seem to be with it, This very morning I ave. been speak. ing about it with the adjutant of a fusileer regi ment quartered here. He assures me that it proves most solid and serviceable, never gets out of order or misses fire—not even when, as in the early part of the campaign, the men were lying out in the snow and their arms got wet and covered with rust. You will remember that at Oversee the Austrian rifles, from similar reasons of exposure to the weather, would not go off, and a part of the troops engaged had to charge a long distance with the bayonet under a heavy fire from the DAM'S ' and suffered severe loss. A great part of that loss would assuredly have been avoided had the Austrians had the Prussian gun. This is a strong case in support of the superiority of the latter weapon, the two great advantages of which are rapidity of loading (combined with perfect) by the breech, and ignition of a prepared cartridge by simple puncture, thus avoiding the use of caps, priming, &e. I hope what I have said in this and a previous letter concerning the excellence of the Prussian weapon may induce some practical men in England to turn his attention to it. The cost of the gun is not great, being only between 12 and 13 thalers-30s. to 395. English. As very exaggerated reports have been current with respect to the Prussian loss in the night affair of the 28th, I may as well repeat that it amounted to 156 officers and men killed and wounded. They all belonged to the Bth and 18th Regiments. No officers were killed on the spot, but three were ex pected to die, and probably are d ead b y this tim e. The whole number of officers wounded and missing were 10; three of these (two of them wounded, and one unhurt) remained in the hands of the Danes. I returns tf o ob f r a t td h t e oa l r ni og l n o o s s s t e ho s ef ; r w i t n hi s d ee e . e d they could have no am perfectly co n vinced that the Pr ussians give true Prussian Guard have joined this army corps by rapid ma r ches from the North. Two of them are station ed at Broacher and in its vicinity. Artillery an d great quantities of ammunition continue to co me up. The idea o f besieging Fredericia appears completely abandoned, at least for the present. Singe my last I have bee n down to Flensb u r g , which I thought a very poor sort of Schleswigian village when I first made its ac q uaintance, earl y in February, but which a ppears quite a large and G luxurious town in compari son with such places as ravenstein, Broacher, No bel, and the other poor f a mine-striken. At Flens quarters, the Crown P r i nce o v v il e l r a c g r e o s w a d n e d d ahnadmpleatrstlaybout here—all grevi ons l y burg are now the head and his staff, the principal hospitals of the army, including one established by the Knights of St. John, who have brought w ith them sortie newly devised ambulance waggo ns and improved str e t c h ers for carrying the wounded off the field. Al ong th e road from Flensburg to G ravenstein, Eckernsund, and Broacher one usually meets, especially i n fi ne weather, numerous officers riding or driving up to the front to visit the works and batteries, take a general view of the progress of affairs, and, perhaps, conveying orders from the Field-Marshal. But Vlensburg is rather far off for those who desire to note as closely as possible all the incidents of the campaign, and such remain up here, roughing it as best they may. The want of accommodation within five or six miles of the D appel lines is such that it seems scarcely possible for headquarters to come nearer than Gravensteiu, which itself is already overcrowded, and the Schloss taken up by Prince Frederick Charles and his staff, Prince Charles, the King's brother, being also still there, After a bright gleans the rain is again coming heavily down, and the evening closes gloomily and with little promise of better weather. Water and mist shroud land and sea with a thick veil, and even through the glass little is to be discerned of what passes in front. Up by the trenches. north from the Veinmingbund, I see that the soldiers have been erecting straw huts, propped against the banks and hedges, as some slight pro tection from the wet. Straw architecture is much cultivated up here, and the soldiers make out of that material and a few sticks very neat and rather pic turesque picket-huts and sentry-boxes, the latter framed out of four uprights, the two front ones somewhat higher than the hixl.e,r env!, with a few RETIRED OFFICERS OF 1846. On bringing up the report on supply, in reply to Mr. YORK; Lord C. PAGET said these cases were considered last year, and the Duke of Somerset and the committee came to the conclusion that they were not entitled to extra privi leges. The report was then agreed to. UNION RELIEF AID. The Union Relief Aid Acts Continuance Bill was con sidered, and ordered to be read a third time to-morrow. The house adjourned at twenty minutes before nine o'clock. THE WAR IN DENMARK. (From the limes Special Correspowlent with the dllicd Armies) BROACKER, April 1. I rode up yesterday afternoon to the Ruhenberg (the Danish Avnbjerg), where several companies are stationed as reserve and support to the troops further in advance, and where I found a numb‘, „f officers seated at dinner round a table ;- a the open air. Leaving my horse there I pr ,seeded to explore the Prussian trenches, passie ,g , through the zigzags up to the first pare.':iel, which was established in the night frorhisionday to Tuesday without oppo sition on the, put of the Dines. The works are very E"acensive, and a good deal has been done in a sl'airt time; but there is a great deal more to do before they will be as they ought to be. The un dulations of the ground have been skilfully availed of to make the approaches out of the enemy's sight. For security's sake, and to be in conformity with the most approved practice, the trenches require deepen. ing, and this will doubtless be done. They were not working yesterday, because the throwing up of the earth would have been seen from the Danish bat teries, and doubtless have drawn their fire; but if it were considered very urgent to expedite these opera tions, it might be possible to work in the day, un seen by the enemy, deepening the trench, and leav ing the loose earth to be thrown up at night. All is iu the rouc,h at present, the work being only in progress. Doubtless, in a few days these trenches will be, as they ought to be, as clean and accurately cut as fortifications. On a general view, however, I should say the works do credit to the Prussian En gineers. The worst point about them is insufficient protection on the side towards the sea, but probably it is thought that from that side little danger is to be apprehended, precautions having been taken against a repetition of the Rolfe Krake's exploits in that direction. The parallel is at various distances from the forte, the nearest being about 600 yards. "Don't show too many heads, gentle• men," said the officer en duty to our party of four, as we lay forward on the bank of newly-raised earth, peering over its summit at the enemy. Bat the Danes behaved like gentle men, and allowed ns to have a quiet stare at their forts and at them as they stood about among their earthworte In their long dark great coats. No. 7, to 'jar left front, looked big, but lifeless; nothing moved about it. Nearer to us was No. 6, the Mala khoff of the position, which will repay some loss in capturing it, since from it are commanded Nos. 1 to 5, all the forts upon its left. Moving on towards our left we got a distant view of Nos. 8 and 9 ; No. 10, which lies back and on lower ground, cannot, 1 apprehend, be seen from any point of this part of the lines. We had begun our pedestrian ramble by going down close to the north shore of the Vemming band, passing by the spot where the 18th Regiment suffered and was thrown into some disorder on Monday morning by the Rolf Krake's sudden volleys of grape at very short range. Ilene° we worked our way northwards, nearly to the high road, at a point in front of the easternmost houses of West Duppel. There the Danish ad sauced sentries stood so near to us that we could almost distinguish their counte nances with the naked eye, as we before, with glasses, had seen the faces of the men about the batteries. It was the first time since the affair of March 17 that I had been quire close to the fore most towns of West Duppel (East Duppel, I may again state, since I sometimes see it spoken of as if in existence, was totally destroyed and razed some time ago by the Danes fcr strategical reasons), which I found had all been gutted by the flames, whereas, in the rearmost part of the village, near the church, there are not a few houses still unin jured. As evening was approaching, and some of us had to ride far to quarters, we there suspended our investigations for the day, although one of our party, of pacific pursuits, but martial instincts, would gladly have lingered in hopes of hearing a Danish shell burst in the neighbourhood. One result of my ramble was to inspire me with the belief, which I previously did not very strongly hold, that it is the intention of the Prussian Gene• rals to proceed against the Dupplo intrenchments in the form of a regular siege, and not to risk a dash, which might cause this army a heavy loss, unac companied by any gains. So we have many weeks' work before us. In eix it was lately estimated by a very competent judge that the assault might be given, but I know not whether that period includes possible delays from bad weather and other causes. The trenches yesterday were very dry for trenches, where ono so often gets over boots iu mud. We had had np to yesterday 15 or 16 days of dry weather, broken only by one rainy afternoon, and, moreover, means have been taken to drain the trenches by cut ting small ditches in the slopes downwards from them. Here and there one came to a soft place, but nowhere was the mud up to the ankles. I fear things look worse to-day. It rained hard all the morning, and the roads, yesterday almost dusty, are now deep in mud. It must be very soft in the trenches, and the work will inevitably be impeded. The Rolf Krake has again been to see us, but this time without committing any overt act of aggres sion. Yesterday, between 1 and 2 p.m., as I was sitting in a room in one of the south-weeternmei,t cross pieces and bundles of long fresh straw woven in between them. It must be unpleasant in the trenches to-night, and work must be difficult. We have net here the stubborn, tenacious Crimean clay, of odious memory, but the soil, of a much lighter and much more manageable description, becomes very quickly diluted into a deep sloppy mud, into which one sinks ad libitum. I hear that three of the officers wounded on the 28th are dead, and that another is dying. There are with this army six servitor brothers of the Rauhe Haus, at Hamburg, a charitable institution, who go on the field under fire to bear away the wounded. The Prince of Pless and Count Stolberg (President of the Prussian Upper Chamber), who have been here in connection with the establishment of the hospitals of St. John, accompanied them and led the way on the first occasion on which they performed this dangerous service. (From the TiniCB Special Correspondent at the Danish Head-quarters.) DANISH HEADQUARTERS, SONDERBORO, March 30. After all the storm and wrack of last Monday we have fallen in with still waters again. The Prussians gave scarcely any sign of life yesterday, and only limited their action to about a dozen cannon shots fired at random at half-an hour or an hour's interval; but their artillery, however loud, did not disturb the serene calmness of the lovely spring day. Credit was given to them for harbouring some great designs under their ominous silence. Our slumbers were uneasy and fitful towards the short hours of Monday night and last night, as we were naturally expecting some such reveillee as had roused us out of our warm beds at three o'clock on Monday morning. Nothing came of it, however. The Prussians have not much bet ter chances of carry ing the Dybbol bastions by storm at this moment than they had on the Bth of February, when they first came in sight of them. Nor will their cannonade have much effect towards crippling the Danish batteries, preparatory to an assault, unless it be a vast deal more brisk and bet ter maintained than it has been for the last two weeks, a period of time during which about 8,000 shots and shells have made little more impression on the Danish earth mounds and breastworks than the merest scratch of a pin. '1 he work must begin anew, and Heaven only knows how tedious the re petition of the same bootless efforts will turn out to the chronicler of these unsatisfactory events. Mr. Herbert and his friend, Mr. Hall, left us this morning, after a stay here of only nine days. The former gentleman, after being the actual nine days' wonder to the Danish army, has departed, the true hero of the hour. I walked and rode out wan him yesterday for the best part of the morning and afternoon, and we scarcely passed a man or officer, on foot or on horseback, that did not greet him and hail him lustily as a comrade and a friend. Not a few broke from the ranks as they marched by us in columns and shook him by the hand, till they almost wrung the arm from his shoulder. I never saw such genuine enthusiasm among these stout-hearted, and, to all appearance, phlegmatic people. His constant presence in the trenches and at outposts has made Mr. Herbert familiar with the vast majority of the Danish soldiers; but even those who had no knowledge of him by eyesight have learnt to single him out of a first glance from mere description. The authorities at headquarters seem no less struck with the novelty and oddity of the " generous whim" than the humble privates with whom the hon. gentleman courted friendship and comradeship. Tney have charged Mr. Herbert with despatches for the War office at Copenhagen, and we have little doubt here that General Gerlach, the Commander-in-Chief, has sent up the Englishman's name among the candi dates for the decoration of the Dannebrog. The admiration of these Danes for the English volunteer "ambulance maa" is, to say the least, reciprocated by this latter. Mr. Herbert himself, as well as his friend, Mr. Hall, and Captain Bond, all three of whom stood behind the foremost breast work, were very eloquent about the calm and firm attitude assumed by these undemonstrative North erners as they took their places oa the trenches, lining them but thinly and feebly with their blade ' pate numbers, and bearing in their countenance the consciousness that the work of at least three men devolved upon each of them, and the determi nation to do that work, or give up their life in their endeavour to do it. The Prussians who ate tacked the Dybbol line were, we are assured, no more than 6,000, and so far they did not greatly overmatch their opponents; but behind those six battalions 20,000 were drawn up; and had the van guard found any where a vulnerable point in the Danish armour the main array would have come up with such a powerful onset as the scanty Danish lines could hardly hope to resist; yet, calm and com posed, did the Danes stand their ground. They could see the enemies' columns forming in great masses in the dim distance. Yet they gave their fire with cool indifference, and when their turn came to draw up in columns, and to sally forth as skirmishers, they left their flimsy shelter and marched out in the gray morning light, never asking if two or ten to one were the odds they were about to encounter. Yet the majority of these Danes seem to all the English gentlemen who see them,as they do to me, rather mere militiamen than real soldiers. They have hardly any military step, mien, or bearing; they are scarcely half drilled, have but little skill in the use of their rifles, know not mech about general or even partial evolutions; they are raw and uncouth, heavy and clumsy ; but the stuff they are made of is the very best upon earth ; and it is most admirably cal culated for defensive work, for the task of patience and stern resolution which is imposed upon them. Gen. Gerlach published yesterday an order of the day, in which he bestowed the due meed of praise upon the regiments engaged in the affair of Mon day, with an account of the casualties consequent upon it. it does not differ materially from the state ment in my last letter. The killed are set down at 4 officers and 30 men ; the wounded, 3 officers and 111 men ; the Prussian prisoners were 4 officers and 27 men. The Execution of the Leominster Murderer. The execution of Thomas Watkins for the murder of his wife, MarylVatkins,at Hennor,near Leominster, on the 18th Jan. last, took place yesterday morning in front of the Hereford County Gaol. This unfortunate woman was remarkably handsome, and her good looks were a continual cause of jealousy to her husband, who left her in a fit of passion. The fellow be came a confirmed idler, and his wife, who had now two chil dren, went out to work, chiefly as a laundress, to support herself and family, and occasionally her husband too. He frequently annoyed her with insinuations as to the doubt fulness of her chastity, which she repudiated. At length Watkins left altogether, and enlisted into the Royal Ma rines. But he soon deserted, and at length it became known to the Poor-law Guardians that ha frequently par took of the food allowed to his wife and family for their sustenance, and they at once summoned her before them. She confessed that he had returned to the neighbourhood, and they endeavoured to obtain from her such particulars as would lead to his apprehension. Her second examina tion was to have taken place on the day after she was found murdered. Watkins himself had formed an opinion that she intended to give him up. He accordingly waylaid her and naurdered her, in order to prevent her from saying any thing against him. Subsequent to his condemnation prisoner confessed the murder, and he added that immediately he found she was dead he at once determined to plead guilty; though the love of life after wards induced him to deny his guilt. He at the same time expressed his sincere contrition for the offence, and said she had given him great provocation. On Sunday the condemned sermon was preached to him by the chaplain of the gaol, the Rev. Joseph Barker. On the previous day (Saturday) he was visited for the last time by his mother, his sister, and his son, a little boy about 12 years old, from whom the friends have succeeded in keep ing the dread sentence that awaited his father. On Monday night he denied being implicated in the drowning of two men of whom he had been jealous, and whose bodies were found in the Lugg in November last. The erection of the scaffold drew a crowd of well-dressed persons to the spot, and yesterday morning at 8 o'clock there mud have been many thousands present. The execu tioner was Smith, of Dudley. The prisoner walked firmly up to the drop, and died very quietly. THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT MIRFIELD RE• PORMATORY.—Joseph Broadhead, the young man who is in rcustody on the charge of attempting to murder Miss Louisa H. Johnson, stands reminded to Thursday next. His victim was reported on Monday evening as having passed as good a night as could be e:.:pectcd, Naval and Military Intelligence, THE NAVY. In order to hasten the construction of the Lord Warden, the first of Mr. Reed's armour plated wooden frigates, now in frame at Chatham Dockyard, the Lords of the Admiralty propose to give the hands employed on her what is termed "encouragement money," with a view of inducing extra exertions on the part of the workmen. A similar plan was adopted at Chatham Dockyard in the construction of the Royal Oak, ironclad frigate, which was built, launched, fully equipped in men and stores, and sent to sea from Chatham, all within 18 months. At present there are com paratively a small number of hands employed on the Lord Warden, nevertheless very considerable progress has been made in the work of putting the vessel in frame. As soon, however, as the mechanics are reit;:med from the iron frigate Achilles, the total number of mechanics ri.49 will be em ployed on the Lord Warden will be upwards of 1,t.,20, and hopes are confinently expressed that she will be completed and ready for launching before the end of the present year. Considering the vast resources now possessed by Chatham as an iron ship building yard, there is no reason for doubt ing that the wishes of the Admiralty with regard to the completion of the Lord Warden by an early day will be fulfilled. Several hundred tons of the siin. and 41in. armour plates for this frigate have arrived at the dockyard, and yesterday the workmen finished landing 170 tons of plates sent in by the Atlas Steel and Iron Works. The plates, as soon as landed at the dockyard, are placed beneath the sheds erected for their reception, care being taken that they receive no injury from any lengthened exposure to the weather. _ _ __ . . By orders from the Admiralty her Majesty's screw steam ship Irresistible, 68 guns, 400 horse power, which has re cently been fitted at Sheerness, has been commissioned as coastguard vessel for service at Southampton in the place of the Dauntless, 31 guns, 600 horse power. Captain H. Dickson, the officers, and crew of the Dauntless have been transferred to the Irresistible, and will shortly proceed to their station. _ _ _ The Dauntless, 31 guns, has been taken into No. 3 dock in Sheerness Dockyard to have her bottom cleaned, to refit for service as coastguard ship on the Humber, in the place of the Cornwallis, 60 guns, 200 horse power power. Capt. J. W. Strange, of the Cornwallis, will hoist his pendant on beard the Dauntless, and the officers and crew of the Corn wallis will be transferred. The Cornwalliii will be putout of commission, and be placed on the third division of the Sheerness steam reserve. _ _ The Aurora, 35, screw steamship, 2,558 tons, 400 horse power, Captain Sir F. L. M'Clintock, which was recently ordered to the Baltic, but has been waiting orders at Leith, arrived at Sheerness on Saturday last. She has been taken into dock at Sheerness to refit and receive stores. The War Department screw steamship Balaclava, from Woolwich, which arrived at Devonport on Monday, left again on Tuesday to return to Woolwich. The paddlewheel steamsloop Gladiator, 8, went yesterday from Hamoaze into Plymouth Sound, where she received her powder and ammunition. The gunboat Pekin, Commander Burgoyne, 104 days from Shanghai, arrived at Woolwich yesterday morning, and discharged her ammunition at the powder buoy off the Royal Arsenal. She afterwards went alongside the pier and landed her guns, 10 in number—namely, one 68 pounder, one 32 pounder, Whitworth rifle gun, six 32 pounders, smooth bores, and two 1 pounder 'Whitworth mountain guns. Her crew were afterwards paid down, and were granted leave of absence to visit their friends. The Pekin is ordered to Woolwich dockyard to. morrow to strip and return stores. She is the first of the expeditionary gun boat fleet fitted out for the Chinese service, which has reached harbour, but she will be immediately followed by the China and the Tien-Tsing reported yesterday in the Channel, and which sailed from the Cape seven days in ad vance of the Pekin, The hired transport Nexo, from the lonian Islands, laden with 227 tons of war stores, yesterday commenced discharg ing at Woolwich Arsenal. The Nexo will be shortly fol lowed by 10 other transports laden with similar cargoes— namely, the Morning Star, the Veranda, the Bellona, the Hun, the Tanaro, the Werterbottom, the Odin, the Transit, the Ann Dunn, and the Viandra. The Maxwell transport, laden with war stores from Wool wich for New Zealand, yesterday shipped 70 tons of powder off Gravesend, and will sail to-day for her destination. The Dagmar, 18, Danish screw steam corvette, has been coaling in Harwich harbour during the last few days. The Dagmar,is one of the Danish fleet which has been cruising in the Noah Sea, and she has mtde several captures since the outbreak of hostilities between Denmark and the Ger man Powers. The Lords of the Admiralty have sanctioned an expend! ture of between £16,000 and £17,000 for new machinery at Chatham Dockyard, the whole of which is to be forthwith erected. The new machinery ordered includes a hydraulic press of a new description and of a size larger than any now in use at either of the Royal dockyards, for bending the 6-inch and other iron-plates intended for the Bellero phon and Lord Warden iron-cased frigates. £4,000 is also to be expended in the erection of six additional overhead travellers beneath those sheds where the iron vessels are to be built, to be used in armour-plating the ships. They have also decided on laying out £lO,OOO in the erection of new and improved spinning and other machines in the ropemak ing establishment at Chatham Dockyard, where the largest cables are now manufactured by steam. Mr. Hayes, Admiralty chemist, has received directions to attend at Chatham Dockyard, for the purpose of superin tending the operation of preparing his anti-fouling compo sition for the bottoms of those iron vessels to which it is to be applied. Staff-Sorg. R. T. Scott, M.D., has been appointed sur geon for service in Sheerness Dockyard, vice Deputy- Inspector-Gen. of Hospitals Alexander ,Cross, M.D., who retires on promotion. The following appointment was made yesterday at th• Admiralty.:—James H. Lawrence, master, to the Irresis tible. CITY SEWERS COMMISSION. Yesterday at 12 o'clock the Commissioners of Sewers of the city of London mot at Guildhall, under the presidency of H. De Jersey, Esq. (deputy), the chairman. The meet ing was numerously attended, and among those present were—Alderman Salomons, M.P., Alderman Lusk, Alder man Challis, Alderman Mechi ; Deputies 0 wden, Lorkin, Harrison, Perkins, Lloyd, Fry, Farrar, Jones, C. Reed, Cork, Bone, White, Bower, Scamell, Burnell; Messrs. G. Walter, Croucher, T. Symonds, Botterill, Cox, Cole, Ban ning, W. L. White, Saunders, Matthew, &e. A considerable portion of the sitting was taken up incon sidering the question as to the proposed erection of a public convenience in the centre of the roadway of Bishopsgate street Without. At a previous meeting of the Commissioners a numerously-signed memorial was presented on behalf of the Society of Friends against the erection which it was proposed to place in the roadway opposite to their meeting house. In consequence of the strenuous opposition then made the subject was referred back to the General Purposes Committee for reconsideration. Mr. JOSEPH DAM to-day laid before the Court the report of the committee, which stated that having considered all the circumstances, and viewed the spot in question, they were unanimously of opinion that there was no reasonable ground for considering that the proposed construction would be any nuisance ; but there was clear evidence that it would on the contrary be the means of remedying a great nuisance, which had existed in the locality for many years past. The committee stated that there was a general feeling in the neighbourhood in favour of the spot selected by the Court, and they further expressed their opinion that there would be ample space on either side of the erection for all the traffic of the street. Under these circumstances they could only repeat their decided opinion that the works should be no longer delayed. The above report gave rise to very considerable discussion in the course of which a majority of the members expressed their opinion that the construction at the spot suggested would not only be a great public nuisance, but greatly inter fere with and impede the traffic, which it was said would shortly be further increased by reason of the erection of the railway terminus in Liverpool-street. On the motion for the adoption of the report, An amendment was proposed by Deputy BOWER, and seconded by Deputy PEWTRESS, " That it is inadvisable at the present moment to proceed with the works, and that the hoarding be removed." The amendment was ultimately carried. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENT IN THAMES-STREET. Mr. H. MATTHEW moved " That it be referred to the Improvement Committee to ascertain whether any arrange ment can be made with the authorities of the parishes of Allhallows the Great and Less for the widening of Thames street, by the removal of the vestibule of the parish church." Mr. BURNELL, one of the commissioners appointed under the act for the union of benefices of the City of London, said the decision of the commissioners had not yet been arrived at with reference to ths church in question. He might, however, say that he believed it was one that was to be pulled down, and the Sewers Commission would thereby be able to take steps to improve the thoroughfare in question, if it should be thought advisable. It would, however, he thought be better not to take any steps until the decision of the Com missioners was made known. The motion was carried. Upon the suggestion of Deputy PERKINS, it was referred to the General Purposes Committee to consider whether in structions should be given to the surveyor to the Commis sion to make a new valuation of the building of the Bank of England, with a view to its being placed, according to its present supposed value, on an equitable footing, as to future assessment, with the various public and other buildings in the immediate locality. (Hear.) SANATORY CONDITION OF THE CITY. Dr. LETREBY read the following report on tho sanatory condition of the City during the past fortnight : " To the Honourable the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London. " Gentlemen,—T he inspector's returns, which are before you, related to 255 houses that have been inspected during the fortnight, and I submit a list of 103 places for sanatory improvement. I also recommend that instructions be given to the sanatory inspector to summon the landlord of Nos. 20 and 21, White-street, Little Moorfields, for neglecting to obey tho sanatory orders of the Court, served upon him on the 24th of March last, "The markets and slaughter-Douses Lave beci duly in- ,•••••••• spected, and the officers have condemned 9,185 lbs. of meat as unfit for human food. It consisted of 41 sheep, 2 calves, 22 pigs, 47 quarters of beef, and 53 joints of meat. 6,703 lbs. of the moat was diseased, and the rest was from animals that had died from accident or disease. " I submit a letter, dated the 22d of March last, from the clerk of the Local Board of Health of Derby, and directed to the Lord Mayor, informing him of the conviction of a person in that town for having diseased meat in his posses sion, and containing comments from the local papers on the practice of sending such meat to the London markets. "I recommend also that one of the cases in which meat was seized by the inspector on the 28th of March, and sent to London by Mr. Smith of Boston, Lincolnshire, be re ferred to the Solicitor, with a view to further proceedings. "The mortality returns for the last fortnight show a favourable state of the public health. The total number of deaths in that time has been 111, the average for the corres ponding period of the last eight years being 124; 28 of th 3 deaths were among children of less than five years of age, end 36 among persons of sixty and upwards. The chief causes of death were as follows :—Consumption 13, mesen teric disease: 8, hydrocephalus 2, pneumonia 4, bronchitis 12, continued f..:ver 5, scarlet fever 5, small-pox 2, croup and laryngitis 3, whooping-cough 2, and diarrhcea 1; making together 23 deaths from tubercular disease, 16 from in flammatory affections of the lungs, and 18 from diseases of a zymotic character. " 115 births were registered in the fortnight, of which 56 were boys, and 59 were girls.--I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, (Signed) "Guildhall, April 5, 1864." The several recommendations contained in the report were adopted. " R. LETHEBY. THE GAS SUPPLY TO THE CITY. Dr. Letheby also reported on the quality of gas supplied to the city of London during the fortnight. The illuminating power of the gas had in each case been above the require ments of the act of Parliament, but the average amount of sulphur had in each case, except the City Gas, been greater than that sanctioned by Parliament. Ssme other business was disposed of, and the court ad• j ourned. COURT OF ALDERMEN, A Court of Aldermen was held yesterday in the alder man's chamber at Guildhall,the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair, and Aldermen Sir James Duke, Sir J. Mus grove, Challis, Sir F. G. Moon, Salomon►s, Finnis, Sir R. Carden, Phillips, Mechi, J. C. Lawrence, Dakin, Bosley, and Lusk, and the Sheriffs were present. THE STATE OF THE GAOLS. The Sheriffs presented their report on the state of the gaols, which showed there were 136 prisoners at present confined in Newgate, 370 in the City Prison at Holloway, and 101 in the Debtors' Prisons. The report was accompanied by the medical certificates as to the fit state of the prison. SWEARING IN THE NEW ALDERMAN. The Court then proceeded to receive the return of the election of an alderman for the ward of Bassishaw, in the room of Edward Conder, Esq., resigned. The declaration was read to the Court, stating that at a wardmote held in the ward of Bassishaw on the 22d March, David Henry Stone, Esq., had been declared by the Lord Mayor to have been duly elected to fill the office of alder man of that ward. The Macebearer then proceeded to lead into the court the deputation who were to introduce the new alderman. Mr. KENDAL, one of the members of the ward of Bassi.. shaw, said, on the part of his follow-brethren of the ward, he had great pleasure in introducing to the Court of Alder men David Henry Stone, Esq., as a fit and proper person to fill the office of alderman for the ward which he repre sented, he having been duly elected for that purpose. Both he and his friends had much satisfaction in finding they had a gentleman to represent them who was so well known to most of the ward, and who had been so long among them, and he had no doubt whatever but he would prove e useful member of that distinguished body to which he had been recently elected, and perform satisfactorily those ardu ous and important duties which were attached to the office. In conclusion, he hoped the new alderman might be spared many years to enjoy the honour which he had attained. The customary oaths of an alderman were then ad minis• tered, and Mr. Alderman Stone wa3 introduced by the Sword. bearer to each member of the Court, and was then conducted to his seat. THE SPITAL SERMONS. A. vote of thanks was passed to the Lord Bishop of Norwich and the Rev. William Simpson Sparrow, M.A.. chaplain to the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, for the Spital sermons preached by them at Easter. OMNIBUS STANDINGS. A petition from the proprietors of the Camberwell, Peck' ham-rye, and Dulwich omnibuses, praying the Court to re-consider their decision as to the standing-place for the said omnibuses, at the corner of Eastcheap, and reinstate them in their former position, or place them on the east side of Gracechnrch-street, was referred to the General Put' poses Committee. COUNTRY MARKETS. _.~..t.. BRISTOL-TUESDAY. Our market to-day was fairly attended, and about the usual quantum of business done in English and foreign wheats e about the same rates as last week. Oats in better demand at 6d per qr advance. Beans, peas, and grinding barley were inactive. MARKET HARBOROUGH-TIIESDA.Y. 'White wheat, 40s to 455; red, 31s to 40s per 36 stone. Malting barley at 33s to 36s per qr.; grinding, 29s to 310 per 30 st. Oats, old, 23s to 278; pew, 20s to 22s per 3 0 at. ; beans, 32s to 40s per qr. LEED S-TUESDAY. There was a fair attendance of millers to-day, and the show of grain was moderate. The demand for wheat con tinues very limited, but there is no alteration from the rates of last Tuesday. Barley made late rates, Oats and beans rather lower. LIVERPOOL-TUESDAY. There was a fair attendance both of town and country dealers at market to-day, and wheat met with a moderate demand at last Friday's prices, being at Id to 2d per costal decline on the week. Flour difficult to sell, although offered at 6d less money. Oats and oatmeal a dull sale, at abort late quotations. Barley, beans, and peas 6d per qr lower , with the merest retail sale. Indian corn attracted little ate tendon. SHEFFIELD-TUESDAY. Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...lsi Od to 18s Oa White 1, , ...18s Od to 20s O a New red , ..158 6d to 16s 6 a New white „ 9 9 ...17s Od to 18s O J Beans ... 15s 6d to 17s CI J 1, If Peas, per qr Grinding barley, per qr 29s Od to 308 0 Malting ditto, ~ .. 32s Od to 35s Od Oats If l9s Od to 24 0 a Flour, is 4d to is 8d per 14 lb. MELTON MOWBRAY-r-TuEsDAY. The following were the currencies :—New white wheat! 43s Od to 46s Od ; new red, 36s Od to 42s per 36 stone! beans, 40s to 42s for old; new sorts, 34s to 37s per 38 et.; barley, 34s to 37s for malting, and 28s to 30s per qr. 1 °, 4 grinding; new oats, 19s to 238 Od per 24 stone; old, 2 to 288. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Consu.mption, all nervous, bilioileo liver, and stomach complaints, in every stage, are only ag gravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but perfectly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalent 4 Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which had been considered hopeless. We quote a few.—Cure No. 62,91 4 . Miss Lange, 18 years of age, cured after the medical men 10 4 abandoned all hopes of her recovery from the last stage of pulmonary consumption, with fearful cough, expeCtoratiou• exhaustion, spitting of blood, perspirations, hollow cheek* emaciated to a skeleton. She is now, thank God, a perfectly healthy, blooming, fleshy girl,—N. Lange, Commissaire ( 1 4 Police. Cure, No. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimiei Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liv e ; derangement, and partial deafness.—Cure, No. 47,121. DV" Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestio n+ gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.—Cure, Na 54,816. The Rev. James T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfau of indigestion and torpidity of the liver, which had resisted all medical reatment. In tins, 11b, 2s 9d; 21b, 4s 6d; 51 !: Ils; 121 b, 225; 241 b, 405. Barry du Barry and Co., No. 1 Regent-street, London ; also Fortnum and Mason; and 11 • 11 grocers and chemists in every town of the United Kingdoms Births. DAY.—On the 3d inst., at Harlow, Essex, the wife of 14 N. Day, Esq., of a daughter. FRASER.—On the 3d inst, at Belle Vue House, Woolwich° common, the wife of Lient.-Col. the Hon. David Frase r ' Royal tt.A., of a daughter. POLLOCIL.—On the 4th inst., at Putney-hill, Mrs. Char ted E. Pollock, of a son. WOLFF.—On the 25th ult., at Corfu, Lady Wolff, of tb son. Marriages. COPELAND—CAPPER.—On the sth inst., at Saint IdarYT Leyton, Alfred James, third son of William T. Copelf l ',3; Esq., Alderman and M.P., of Russell Farm, WsW e 'be Herta, to Selina M. Copeland, youngest daughter of late Samuel James Capper, Esq., of Leyton, Essex, rot Right the 4th inst., at Brighton,• of Right Hon. Lord Forbes, to Louisa, second daugW r the late James Ormond, Esq., of Abingdon, Berkshire' Deaths. Amm.—On the 3d inst., at Maida-hill west, Williams` 5' Amiel, Esq., Commaner R.N., aged 73. • BoNnAaz —On the 2d inst., at Henham Hall, Suffolko,Yrbe; dcrick, youngest son of the lrte Colonel Bonham, 0.1 10th Hussars, and of the Countess of Stradb roke, sg" eight years. CooKn the 4th inst., T. P. Cooke, Esq., late of 3S ; Woburn-square, and St. Vincent Villa, Ryde• a t , t o, II P house of his son-in-law, Hugh Cumming , Esq.) °' - Thurloe-square, aged 78. DEsuoßouou.—On the 2d inst., at Limerick , Edith Wl' infant daughter of Lieut.-Colonel Desborouglii aged 11 months and 24 days. DOUGLAS.—On the 30th ult. at Frankfort -on-the-ga l ! . ! Agnes Elizabeth, only surviving daughter of Sir Char le Douglas, M.P. London: Primed and Prbiished by WILLIA M ANDIIE V ; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at 111 E SUN °MCC NO. 11 f Strand, in tha Precinct of the Savoy. ;11 the COUTJ'i ° ifilcAeX,rWedlleN4SY, * 41 . 11 6, 1861.